PACIFIC FLIGHT BY LIGHT PLANES

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 7

PACIFIC FLIGHT BY LIGHT PLANES

Head Winds Delay Departure (N’.Z. Press Association—Copyright) 1 SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19 ? i Strong head winds forced four New Zealanders to turn back today after flying two Australian I Government twin-engined Cessna •ircraft only 350 miles of a planned flight to Australia. ■ Mr Phil Lightband, one of the i pilots, said that it would be the, {first light aircraft flight from the {United States to Australia. i The next attempt would depend [on weather conditions. ; The Cessna model 310-B air- ! craft will fly from San Francisco to New Zealand by way of i Honolulu. Canton Island, and Fiji. |lt is expected that the aircraft will end their flight at Bell Block aerodrome. New Plymouth. After several days in New Plymouth they will fly to Sydney. The aircraft are being delivered to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Australia, where they will be used in rain-making operations. They are being imported into Australia by Rex Aviation Proprietary, Ltd., a subsidiary company of Rural Aviation. Ltd., New Zealand. The two aircraft will be piloted by Mr Miles N. King, of New Plymouth, managing director of Rural Aviation and governing director of Rex Aviation Proprietary, Ltd., and by Mr Lightband, of New Plymouth, operations manager of Rural Aviation, Ltd. Both will be accompanied by navigators. The longest stage on the trip will be the 2442 miles from San Francisco to Honolulu, and will take about 13 hours. The distances of the other stages are: Honolulu to Canton, 1909 miles; Canton to Fiji, 1270 miles; Fiji to New Plymouth, 1475 miles. The aircraft are fitted with longrange tanks to enable them to carry sufficient fuel for the flights.